Adjustable mask for photoprinting machines



March 28, 1933. J. L. BARBER 1,902,

ADJUSTABLE MASK FOR PHOTOPRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1931 Z, w Fi -5 n 46 Inventor: J'oseph.- LQBar-ber'.

Patented Mar. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH: L. BARBER, OF GREELEY, COLORADO ADJUSTABLE MASK FOR PHOTOPRINTING MACHINES Application filed September 5, 1931.

This invention relates to an adjustable mask for photoprinting machines.v A mask for a, photoprinting machine is ordinarily placed upon the top or table of said machine adjacent the window thereof, its purpose being to more easily accomplish proper positioning of the negative and printing paper employed in the making of photographs.

When making photographs from negatives of variable sizes, it is desirable that the photographic printing mask be adjustable so that the negative employed, no matter What may be its size, can be readily and easily and firmly located relatively to the photoprinting machine, and so that the printing paper employed can be just as readily and easily and properly alined and otherwise positioned, as to margin, ete., relatively to said negative and machine.

It an object of the invention to provide an adjustable photographic printing mask of simple and inexpensive structure and having incorporated therein novel and improved features and characteristics adapted to render the present device a vast improvement generally over devices for a similar purpose heretofore known.

A further object is to provide an adjustable photographic printing mask which will include an adjustable support for a negative,

and an element of unitary structure constituting a retainer or holder for the negative and also constituting a guide and margin adjuster for the print paper.

A further object is to provide an adjustable photographic printing mask consisting of a pair of fixedly carried negative supporting members or ribbons arranged perpendicularly to each other and a pair of adjustably carried negative supporting members also arranged perpendicularly to each other and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting members or ribbons, an expansible and contractible negative support. of rectangular configuration, and an element of unitary structure, including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other, constituting an adjustable retainer or holder for the negative, as well as an adjust- Serial No. 561 ,398.

able guide and margin adjuster for the print paper.

A further object is to provide an adjustable photographic printing mask consisting of a flat frame of L-shape, a pair of negative supporting members or ribbons fixedly carried by said frame and arranged perpendicularly to each other, a pair of negative supporting members or ribbons adjustably carried by said frame and arranged perpendicuco larly to each other and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting members or ribbons, an expansible and contractib le negative support of rectangular configuration, and an element of unitary on structure and of L-shape, adj ustably sup ported at the location of meeting of said fixedly carried supporting members or ribbons to move inwardly and outwardly thereover, from and toward said frame, constituting a retainer or holder for the negative, as well as a guide and margin adjuster for the print paper.

A still further object is to provide an adjustable photographic printing mask as just stated, wherein said fixedly carried negative supporting members or ribbons will be mounted upon the lower surface of said L- shape frameto respectively extend parallel with the arms thereof and have their marginal portions arranged at the inner side of said frame, wherein said adjustably carried negative supporting members or ribbons will be slidably mounted in novel and improved manner upon the upper surface of said L- shape frame to respectively extend perpendicularly to the arms thereof, and wherein said element of unitary structure will be supported in novel and improved manner to be slidable at a 45 angle relatively to the expansible and contractible rectangular negative support and to be normally resilient or yield ingly urged toward or against the fixedly carried members or ribbons of said rectangular negative support to grasp the negative between said element and members or ribbons, but readily and easily removable therefrom when a negative is to be inserted in the adj ustable mask.

And a still further object is to provide in the adjustable photographic printing mask various features and characteristics which in combination generally and with each other constitute novel and improved construction. With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprisesthe construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangementof parts being permissible as long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow. y In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig.1 is a plan view of an adjustable photographic printing mask made according to the invention and shown as when applied to use; 'Fig- 2 is a detail sectional View taken on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3'3 in Fig. 1; I

I Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4 lin Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5- 5 in Fig. 1. 7

With respect to the drawing and the numerals of reference thereon, 10 represents the frame of the photographic printing mask which, as disclosed, consists of a single fiat piece of sheet 11161321101? L-shape and having arms 11 and 12of equal length which are perpendicular to each other, and 18 denotes screws, one in each of the arms lland 12 of the frame 10, which enter the top or table 1 1 of'a printing machine 15 to releasably attach the adjustable mask to said top or table at location adjacent the glass 16 covering the window 17 through said top or table. De-

7 sirably, the inner edges of the perpendicular arms of the frame 10 are parallel with the adjacent side edges of the window 17 and the inner corner of said frame 10, where the inner edges of the arms 11 and 12 meet, may

, lie directly above the corresponding corner of said window 17.

' The photographic printing machine has negative supporting ribbons including a pair of ribbons designated 18 and 19, fixedly carried by the arms 11 and 12, respectively and a pair of ribbons, designated 20 and 21, adjustable along the lengths of said arms 11 and 12, respectively. As disclosed, each of the fixed ribbons 18 and 19 may desirably be a relatively thin sheet of brass, and said ribbons18 and 19 are mountedupon the bottom face of the arms 11 and 12 to extend longitudinally along said arms, respectively. Said negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19 are attached to said arms 11 and 12 by bolts or screws 22, and the inner marginal portions of said fixed ribbons extend beyond the in ner edges of the arms 11 and 12 for some considerable distance. Said inner edges of the fixed ribbons 18 and 19 are desirably perpendicular to each other and parallel with the inner edges of the arms 11 and 12, respec-- tively, and at equal distance from said edges. Theupper surface of the outer marginal por tions of the negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19 are contiguous with the lower surfaces of the arms 11 and 12 of the frame 10.

Each of the adjustable negative supporting ribbons 20 and 21 may also desirably be arelatively thin sheet'of brass. The ribbon 20 is slidable along the arm 11 and extends perpendicularly to the fixed ribbon 18 and parallel with the fixed ribbon 19, and the ribbon 21 is slidable along the arm 12 and extends perpendicularly to'thefixed ribbon 19 and parbest shown in Fig; 1, the ribbon 21 as disclosed resting upon the ribbon 20, and said ribbon 20 in turn resting upon the top or table 1 1, 1

As very clearly disclosed, each arm .11 and 12 of the frame 10,fixedly supports spaced guide members 23 upon its upper surface, said guide members 23 extending longitudinally of said arms, respectively,'and being attached thereto by rivets 24. The inner faces of the guide members 23 are undercut to provide v guideways 25, one upon each of arms 11 and 12-, each adapted to receive a ll-blOClK 26 slidable in the guideway and longitudinally of the arm. The V-block 26 in the guideway 25 upon the arm 11 rigidlys upports the'adjustable ribbon 20, andthe V- block 26 in the guideway 25 upon the arm 12 rigidly supports the adjustable ribbon 21. As shown, each of the adjustable ribbons 20 and 21 includes a iorizontal portion 27 of its being perpendicular to the main body portion of the corresponding adjustable ribbon20 or 21 to thus situate said adjustable negative supporting ribbons in the relation to each other and to the fixed negative supporting ribbons 18and 19 as'already described. Each V-block 26 has a vertical threaded opening therethrough receiving a set screw 30 adapted to be'turne'd home against the upper surface of the frame 10 to adj'ustably fix the negative. supporting ribbons 20 and 21 along the lengths of the arms 11 and 12, respectively, as will be understood.

It will be apparent that the fixed negative supporting ribbons l8 and 19,, which are perpendicular to each other and are arranged, respectively, parallel with the sides of the window 17, will provide suitable supporting surfaces for two of the meeting side marginal portions of a rectangular negative, no matter what may be the size of said negative.

It will also be apparent that the negative sup porting ribbons. 20 and 21, which together with the negative supporting ribbons 18, and 19 complete a rectangle, can be readily adjusted along the length of the arms 11 and 12, respectively, to provide suitable supporting surfaces for the two meeting side marginal portions of the negative which are opposite the side marginal portions supported by said fixed negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19 That is to say, one corner portion of the negative is adapted to be supported at the location where the fixed ribbons 18 and 19 meet, the opposite corner portion of said negative is adapted to be supported at the location where said adjustable ribbons 20 and 521 meet, one of the adjacent corner portions of the negative is adapted to be supported at the location where the fixed ribbon 18 and adjustable ribbon 20: meet, and the other adjacent corner portion of said negative is adapted to be supported at the location where the fixed ribbon 19 and the adjustable ribbon 2,1 meet, as will be understood. 7

An important feature of the invention is the provision in the device. of a unitary element 31 constituting a negative retainer or holder and a guide and margin adjuster for the print paper. Said unitary element 31 is, as shown, of L-shape, including integral arms, designated 32 and 33, which are perpendicular to each other, the arm 32 being parallel with the arm 11 and normally in contiguous relation with the upper surface of the inner marginal portion of the negative supporting ribbon 18, and the arm 33 being parallel with the arm 12 and normally in contiguous relation with the upper surface of the inner margin al portion of the negative supporting ribbon 19. The unitary element 31 may be a casting, or may be otherwise constructed, and said element is adjustable inwardly and outwardly over the supporting ribbons 18 and 19, toward and from the frame 10', in such manner that the arms 32 and 33 are always at equal distance from the inner edges of the arms 11 and 12, respectively, and, naturally, also at equal distance from the inner edges of the fixed negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19, respectively, the movements of said arms 32 and 33 in practice being confined to the space between said inner edges of the arms 11 and 12 and said inner edges ofthe fixed ribbons 18 and 19.

Mechanism. for adjusting said unitary ole ment. 31 inwardly and outwardly over the supporting ribbons 18 and 19, toward and from the frame 10, includes a V-block 34: which is attached to said unitary element 31 at 35 and is longitudinally slidable in spaced. apart guide members 36. which are riveted as at 37 to a supporting plate 38 therefor.

The spaced apart guide members 36 and the supporting plate 38 constitute a structure which is pivotally supported between upstanding, spaced apart blocks 39 riveted to the frame 10 as at. 40. The blocks 39 extend at a 45 angle to the. window opening 17, as does also the plate 38, and means for pivotally mounting said plate in said blocks consists of pivot screws 41,, one in each block and having points which enter oppositely disposed depressions 12 in the side edges of the structure consisting of a plate 38 and the members 36.

A set screw 43, which passes through a ver tical threaded opening in the member is adapted to: be brought into engagement with the plate 38 to lock the V-block 34 at. any position to which adjusted in the guideway provided by the spaced apart members 36, to thus locate the unitary element 31 at any desired adjusted position to which it may be moved in practice.

A portion of the plate 38 at the side of its axis opposite the element 31 is suitably pro vided with an upstanding, inverted housing 441 for a coil spring 45 which has its upper end engaged with the end wall of the housing and its lower end arranged over a screw or lug 46v and engaged with the upper surface of the frame 10,. to thus normally hold the arms 32' and 33 of the unitary element 3 1 in yielding engagement with the inner marginal portions of the negativesupporti ng ribbons 18, and 19, respectively. A knob 47 conveniently attached to, the outer end of said plate 38 is for the purposeof pushing said outer end of the plate downwardly against the resilient action of the coil spring 45 to time elevate the unitary element 31 and remove. it

from engagement with the fixed negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19,

The unitary element. 31 and the V-block 34 receive taper pins 48 adapted to. insure perfect alinement of said unitary element and V-block. The arm 33 of said unitary element desirably has attached against the lower surface thereof a piece of spring brass 4-9 adapted to the purpose of more firmly holding the negative, and the arm 32 preferably includes alining lugs 50 to more accurately guide the, printing paper.

When the adjustable photographic printing mask is applied to use, the negative sup porting ribbons 20 and 2-1 are moved totheir proper relation with respect to each other and with respect: to. the negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19, so that the marginal pertion of a negative, such as shown at 51, can be supported upon all of said ribbons 18, 19, 20 and 21. When said negative supporting ribbons are suitably adjusted, and the knob 47 is depressed to elevate the unitary element 31, and meeting side edge portions of said negative are placed between said unitary element 31 and the fixed negative supporting ribbons l8 and 19, in about the manner as shown in the drawing. After the negative is so inserted, the knob 47 is released, and the coil sprin g acts to resiliently urge the arms and of the unitary element 31 into yielding engagement with the negative to clamp it between said arms 82 and 33 and the fiXed negative supporting ribbons 18 and 19. Thus the negative is positively held and retained by the mask, with its marginal portions resting upon and supported by the ribbons 18, 19, 20 and 21, the piece of spring brass 19 upon the lower surface of the arm 33, materially assisting in firmly grasping the negative.

It frequently happens that a plurality of photographs are to be made from a negative when" once inserted in a photoprinting machine, printing papers, such 52, being successively placed over the negative for repeated photoprinting operations. 'Each printing paper in the instance of the present device is placed over the negative 51 in about the manner as disclosed, with a pair of its meeting edges arranged against the inner edges of the arms 32 and 33 of the unitaryelement 81,

which unitary element thus serves as an ad j ustable guide and a margin adjuster for the printing paper, in addition to its service as an adjustable holder or retainer for the negative. It will be obvious that the marginal adjustment for the printing paper, as well as for the negative, is accomplished by adjustment of the unitary element 31 toward and from the frame 10, outwardly and inwardly over the fixed negative supporting ribbons 18. and '19, the adjustable negative supporting ribbons 20 and 21 of course being also suitably adjusted.

As. Will be apparent, applicant has pro- "duced a photographic printing mask of very simple, practical and exceedin ly efficient construction, including means whereby the negative can be readily and easily and firmly located relatively to the printing machine, and whereby. the printing paper'can be read ily and easily alined and'properly positioned as tomargin relatively to the negative, as

well as to' the machine. The arrangement of fixed and adjustable negative supporting ribbons as shown and described insures perfect alinement. at any position of the negative and paper. The unitary element 31,which constitutes the negative retainer or holder, as well'as the guide and margin adjuster for the print paper, regulates two meeting side portions ofthenegative and paper at once,

Attention is called to the fact that the adjustable photoprinting mask of the present invention, being detachably associated with a photoprmting machine, can conveniently be employed in connection with photoprinting machines of different makes.

What I claim is '1. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a pair of fixedly carried negative supporting members arranged perpendicularb to each other and a pair of 'adjustably carried negative supporting members also arranged perpendicularly to each other and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting members, an expansible and contractible negative support of rectangular configuration, and an element oi' unitary structure, including arms arranged in perpendicular rela tion to eachother, constituting an adjustable, releasable holder forsaid' negative, said unitary element also constituting an adjustable guide and marginadjuster for the printing paper. I

2. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a pair of fixedly carried negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each other and a pair of adj ustably carried negative supporting members also arranged perpendicularly to each other and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting members, an expansible and contractible negative support of rectangularconfiguration, and an element including arms arranged in angular relation to each other adjustably slidable upon said fixedly. carried negative supporting members constituting a releasable retainer for the negative and a guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper.

' 3. Anadjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a pair of lixedly carried negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each 1 other and a pair of adjustably carried negative supporting members also arranged perpendicu larly to each other andconstituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting members, an expansible and contractible negative support of rectangular configuration, an element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to eachother and slidable upon said fixedly carried negative support ing members at their meeting location for releasably retaining the negative in said mask and for providing an adjustable guide and margin adjusted for the printing paper, and means for-adjusting said element over said fixedly'carried negative supporting members and toward and from said .expansiblef and contractible rectangular negative support.

4. An. adjustable "mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a'pairrof fixe edly carried negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each other and a pair of adj ustably carried negative supporting members also arranged perpendicularly to each other and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting meml ers, an expansible and contractible support of rectangular configuration, and an element of unitary structure, including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and parallel with said fixedly carried negative supporting members, respectively, adjustably slidable over said fixedly carried members and movable toward and from said rectangular negative support and constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably clamping the negative in the mask, said element also providing an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper.

5. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising an expansible and contractible rectangular support for a negative, including fixedly carried negative supporting members constituting two of the meeting sides of said rectangular support, and a element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and parallel with said fixedly carried members, respectively, and slidable thereover toward and from said rectangular support, said element constituting an adjustableretainer for releasably holding the negative in said mask, and also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper.

6. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising an expansible and contractible rectangular support for a negative, including fixedly carried negative supporting members constituting two of the meeting sides of said rectangular support, an element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and parallel with said fixedly carried members, respectively, and slidable thereover toward and from said rectangular support, said element constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably holding said negative in said mask, and also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper, the arms of said element meeting at location directly above the adjacent corner of said rectangular support, and means for adjusting said element at a 45 angle relatively to said rectangular support.

7. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising an expansible and contract-iblc rectangular support for a negative, including fixedly carried negative supporting members constituting two of the meeting sides of said rectangular support, an element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and parallel with said fixedly carried members, respectively, and slidable thereover toward and from said rectangular support, said element constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably holding said negative in said mask, and also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper, the

arms of said element meeting at location diand contractible rectangular support for a;

negative, including fixedly carried negative supporting members constituting two of the meeting sides of said rectangular support, an element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and parallelwith said fixedly carried members, respec tively, and slidable thereover toward and from said rectangular support, the arms of said element meeting at location directly adjacent the location where said fixedly carried members meet, said element constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably holding said negative in said mask, and also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper, means normally yi-eldingly urging said element against said rectangular support, means for removing said element from said rectangular support when a negative is to be inserted therein, and means directly attached to said element and slidable toward and from said rectangular support at a 45 angle thereto.

9. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a flat frame of Lshape, a pair of negative supporting members fixedly carried by said frame and arranged perpendicularly to each other, a pair of negative supporting members adj ustably carried by said frame and arranged perpendicularly to each other and constituting, together with said fixedly carried supporting members, an expansible and contractible negative support of rectangular configuration, and an element of unitary structure and of L-shape adjustably supported at the location of meeting of said fixedly supported members to move inwardly and outwardly thereover from and toward said rectangular frame, said element constituting a retainer for releasably holding the negative in said mask, and also constituting a guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper.

10. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a flat frame of L-shape adapted to be attached to the top of a photographic printing machine adjacent the window thereof, a pair of negative supporting ribbons fixedly carried by the lower surface of said L-shape frame to respectively extend parallel with the arms of negative supporting ed upon the upper surface of'said L-shape said frame and have their marginal portions arranged at the inner side of the frame and perpendicularly to each other, a pair of ribbons slidably mountframe to respectively extend perpendicularly to the arms thereof and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative -13 supporting ribbons, an expansible and contractible negative support of rectangular Configuration, and an element of unitary structure and of L-shape adjustably supported at the location of meeting of said fixedly supported ribbons to move inwardly and outwardly thereover at a 45 angle, from and toward said rectangular frame, said element constituting a retainer forreleasably holding the negative in said mask and also constituting a guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper. I

11. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a flat frame of L-shape adapted to be attached to the top of a photographic printing machine adjacent the window thereof, a pair of negative supporting ribbons fixedly carried by the lower surface of said L-shape frame to respectively extend parallel with the arms of said frame and have their marginal portions arranged at the inner side of the frame and perpendicularly to each other, a pair of negative supporting ribbons slidably mounted upon the upper surface of said L-shape frame to respectively extend perpendicularly to the arms thereof and constituting, together with said fixedly carried negative supporting ribbons, an expansible and contractible negative support of rectangular configuration, an element of unitary structure and of L-shape adjustably supported at the location of meeting of said fixedlysupported ribbons to move inwardly and outwardly thereover at a 45 angle, from and toward said rectangular frame, said element constituting a retainer for releasably holding the negative in said mask and also constituting a guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper, and means for normally ,yieldingly urging said element against said fixedly carried ribbons. v

12. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a fiat frame ofL-shape, anexpansible and contractible rectangular support for a negative carried by said frame and including fixedly carried negative supporting members constituting :two of the meeting sides of said rectangular support, an element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and parallel'with said fixedly carried members, respectively, and slidable thereover toward and from'said L-shape frame, said element constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably holding the negative in said mask,

and also constituting an adjustable guide tion directly adjacent a corner of said rectangular support, a ,guideway upon said L- sha e frame and arran ed at a 45 an 'le P i V g g to the arms of sald element, and means attached to said element and slidable in said guldeway.

13. An printing machines,comprising a flat; frame 'of'L-shape, an expansible and contractible rectangular support for a negative carried by said frame and including i xedl carried negative supporting members constituting two of the meeting sides of saidrectangular support, an element including arm's arranged in perpendicular relation to'each other and parallel with said fixedly carried members,

respectively, and slidable thereover toward 5 and from said'L-shape frame, said element constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably holding the negative in said mask, and also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper,

the arms of said element meeting at a location directly adjacent a'corner of; said rectangular support, a platepivoted upon said L-shape frame, a guideway upon said plate ad'ustable mask for Uh'otocra hie l ca and arranged at a 45 angle to the arms of said element, means attached to said element and adjustably slidable in said guideway, and resilient means associated with said pivoted plate and said. L-shape frame for yieldingly' urging said element toward said fiXed- 7 1y carried supporting members. i

14. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines,comprising a fiat frame of L-shape, an expansible and contractible rectangular support for a negative carried by said frame and including fixedly carried negative supporting members constituting two of the meeting sides of said rectangular support, an element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each,

other and parallel with, said fixedly carried members, respectively, and slidable thereover toward and from said L-shape frame, said element constituting an adjustable retainer for releasably holding the negative in said mask, and also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper, the arms of said element meeting at a location directly adjacent a 'corner of saidrectangular support, a supporting plate pivotally carried by said L-shape frame on a horizontal axis, a guideway upon said supporting. plate and arranged at a 45 angle to the arms of said element, a block slidable'in said guideway and rigidly attached to said element, a set screw for fixing said block in any desired adjusted position in said guideway, and a coil spring associated with said supporting plate and said L- shape frame for normally urging said element into resilient engagement with said'fix edly carried negative sup-porting members.

15. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a fiat frame having arms which are perpendicular to each other, negative supporting means attached to said arms and extending beyond the inner sides thereof and perpendicularly to each other, a negative holding element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and slidable over said negative supporting means at their meeting location toward and from said frame, a guideway upon said frame and extending at a 45 angle to both arms of said element, and means slidable in said guideway and supporting said element.

16. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a flat frame having arms which are perpendicular to each other, negative supporting means attached to said arms and extending beyond the inner sides thereof and perpendicularly to each other, a negative holding element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and slidable over said negative supporting means at their meeting location toward and from said frame, a plate pivotally supported upon said frame adjacent said element, a guideway upon said plate and extending at a l -5 angle to both arms of said element, means slidable in said guideway and supporting said element, and means resiliently urging said plate in direction to normally yieldingly hold said element in engagement with said fixedly carried negative supporting means.

17. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a flat frame having arms which are perpendicular to each other, negative supporting means attached to said arms and extending beyond the inner sides thereof and perpendicularly to each other, a negative holding element including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other and in parallel relation to said negative supporting means, respectively, and slidable over said means at their meeting location toward and from said frame, a plate adjacent said element, a horizontal axis upon said frame for said plate, a guideway upon said plate and extending at a 45 angle to said element, means supporting said element and slidable in said guideway, and resilient means for urging said plate in direction to cause said element to normally yieldingly engage said negative supporting means.

18. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a flat frame having arms which are perpendicular to each other, negative supporting means attached to said arms and extending perpendicularly to each other, and negative holding element including arms arranged in parallel relation to said negative holding means, respectively,

and movable thereover inwardly and outwardly of said frame.

19. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each other, and a negative holding element including arms arranged in angular relation to each other and in parallel relation to said negative supporting members, respectively, said arms of said holding element being movable transversely of said negative supporting members, respectively.

20. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each other, and a negative holding element arranged adjacent meeting portions of said members, said element including arms extending longitudinally of and adjustable transversely of said members, respectively.

21. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each other, and a negative holding element arranged adjacent meeting portions of said members, said element including arms extending parallel with, adjustable transversely of, and movable toward and from said members, respectively.

22. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, comprising a fiat frame having arms which are perpendicular to each other, negative supporting members extending inwardly of said arms and arranged perpendicularly to each other, a negative holding element including arms arranged per pendicularly to each other and parallel with said members, respectively, said arms being movable transversely of said members, respectively, and means slidably supporting said element.

23. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, including a pair of negative supporting members arranged perpendicularly to each other, and an element of unitary structure, including arms arranged in perpendicular relation to each other, constituting an adjustable, releasable holder for said negative, said element also constituting an adjustable guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper.

24. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, including a pair of negative supporting members arranged in angular relation to each other, and an element including arms arranged in angular relation to each other adjustable transversely of said negative supporting members, respectively,

said element constituting a releasable retainer for the negative and a guide and margin adjuster for the printing paper.

25. An adjustable mask for photographic printing machines, including a pair of negative supporting members arranged in angu-.-

printing paper.

' JOSEPH L. BARBER. 

